Packaging machine



Nov. 10, 1970 w. R. RUNO E AL Filed March 8, 1967 PACKAGING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 //VVE/V7'0ES, MLL/AM Z fuA/o W. R. RUNO ET AL PACKAGING MACHINE Nov. 10, 19?0 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8 1967 5 .7 m k N W M E v 5 W? Y 004% 5 ZHM M55 wry WM W%@ B L 9 n M O B Nov. 10, 1970 w RUNQ ET Al.

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed marah 8, 1967 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 e 5 W N H r w MOE/9% VNMZ -w- [#4 M AY E Zim a Nov. '10, 1970- w, R, R NQ ETAL 3,538,676

PACKAGING MACHINE I Filed Mafch s, 1967 v Sheets-Sheet HEN/2y E HENDERSON, Jra. f/s/vzy 154M545 NOV. 10, 1970 w, RuNQ ETAL 3,538,676

. PACKAGING MACHINE Filed March 8, 1967 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 108) [n 1.08 no //v VE/V mes, MAL/4M Z Fuuo #EA/fY/i flEA/osesom Jz. flavm 54%4545 Nov. 10, 1970 w. RRUNO ET AL PACKAGING MACHINE I '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March 8, 1967 i-ifi-ii E i/ 21? I lA/I/EWTOZS Mu. MM F. fiu/vo HEN/WE #zwm HEN/2y 54m United States Patent 3,538,676 PACKAGING MAHINE William R. Runo, 78 Hillside Ave., West Caldwell, NJ.

07006; Henry F. Henderson, Jr., Rifle Camp Road,

West Paterson, NJ. 07424; and Henry Barabas, 27

Orth Ave, Passaic, NJ. 07055 Filed Mar. 8, 1967, Ser. No. 621,569

Int. Cl. 1565b 51/10 U.S. Cl. 53-182 21 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A packaging machine for forming and filling heat sealable sheet material having means for folding the sheet material, means for forming the sheet material into a tubular form with an open overlapping edge, heat seals to seal the overlapping edge, and a horizontal sealing assembly for clamping, sealing and severing the filled tubular formed sheet material to form individual packages. Heated flowing liquid is utilized to provide the heat for the heat seals.

This invention relates to packaging machines, and more particularly, to an improved packaging machine of the type wherein a sheet or film is formed into a tubular bag structure which is filled, sealed and separated into individual packages.

Heretofore, machines have been used for forming a continuous length of sheet material into a tubular bag structure by sealing overlapped side portions of the tubular structure, sealing the leading end of the structure to provide a closed bag bottom, filling the bag structure, sealing the tubular structure above its contents to provide a closed bag top and finally separating adjacent bags to provide individual packages. The sheet material handled by such machines is a heat sealable film having a thickness of about 0.001 to 0.003 inch which can be sealed rapidly and will set heat sealed to confine the contents.

Such machines have been advantageously utilized to form packages for confining at the most several pounds of material or less but have been unsuitable for handling thicker films or sheets for forming bags that are capable of confining heavier amounts of material. The primary uses of such machines have been to package potato chips, pretzels, bread crumbs, cracker-like snacks, pasta products, coffee, dried fruits, and vegetables, but such machines are incapable of packaging at least one hundred pounds of material such as sugar, for example.

The continuous packaging of material in large bags presents many problems which cannot be solved simply by making the existing packaging machines larger so that they can handle the thicker sheet material as well as the heavier amounts of material to be packaged. The sealing members must be made so that there is only a negligible temperature diflerence throughout the sealing members in order to produce a uniform strength seal. This requires a better and more constant heat source than the sealing members with resistance elements in the smaller machines are capable of producing. The heavier ice weight of the filled package requires sufliciently strong supporting means for the packages both before and after separation. The use of the heavier and very wide sheet material and the larger mass of material to be placed in the sealed bag requires that the sheet material be formed into its flattened tubular shape initially rather than being formed into a circular shape and then flattened as it. is sealed to form the flattend bag shape. This is because the circular type former would have to be of unusually large and cumbersome proportions to form the larger bags of 50 and pound capacity; the effective motions of the clamps and seal boss would be excessive if the former were circular rather than the flattened tubular type. Furthermore, excessive wrinkling of the film material would occur during clamping producing improper conditions for proper sealing of the film.

Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a machine for the continuous packaging of material which will overcome all of the above as well other problems and deficiencies of previously used packaging machines.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a packaging machine which is capable of handling sheet material of the heat scalable type having a wall thickness suflicient to form bags usable to confine considerable weights of material.

Another object is to provide a packaging machine having heat seals capable of producing a uniform seal for heavy walled bag structure.

Still another object is to provide a packaging machine which forms a flattened tubular bag structure prior to filling.

Still another object is to provide a packaging machine wherein wrinkling of the tubular bag structure at the ends to be sealed is prevented and the bag structure is maintained flat at the seals.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved and simplified means for removing excess air from the bag prior to sealing the ends.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a packaging machine which is of relatively simple construction and easy to manufacture, which is automatic and rapid in its operation, and which is well adapted for the purposes described.

According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects are attained by providing a packaging machine which comprises passing the sheet material around a folder and former to form a flattened tubular shaped bag with an open longitudinal overlapping side, heat sealers to seal the overlapping side, seal the horizontal lower end of the tubular bag and the horizontal upper end of a prior filled bag, a vertically movable mechanism which carries the horizontal heat seals and clamps which pull the bag downward and as the bag is being filled by a premeasured amount of material, severs the tube between the upper and lower horizontal end seals causing flattened tubular shaped bag is a primary feature in developing a package for heavy loads. This is accomplished by designing the former in such a way that it maintains the film material taut and supports the material throughout the forming operation.

From the forming operation, the sheet material is guided around the filling tube where the vertical seal is formed. As the sheet material is moved down past the filling tube, it is maintained taut by the use of spring members which press against the inside of the formed sheet material. This feature maintains the flattened tubular bag wrinkle free during the clamping and horizontal sealing operation.

The horizontal and vertical sealing members constitute another important feature of the present invention. The smaller packaging machines substantially all utilize resistance heating to heat their sealing elements. Although this works quite well for the thinner sheet material and a short seal length, the use of this type of heating has not been successfully employed for the thicker sheet materials and the longer sealing lengths of about two feet wherein the seals are subjected to heavy stresses as caused by 50 or 100 pounds of material contained in the sealed bag. Therefore, the preferred embodiment of the present invention uses a heated fluid maintained at a uniform temperature passing through the sealing members to produce a uniform and constant temperature throughout the length of the sealing dies.

Another important part of the present invention is the supporting and clamping means for the filled packages prior to and after the bags are severed. With the smaller packages involving little weight, support was not important; however, with weights of one hundred to two hundred pounds involved here, proper supporting means must be used which 'will hold the filled bags prior to severing and then release the severed package at the proper time. Also, the clamping means includes means to remove excess air from the filled bags since if the trapped excess air is not removed from the bag during the clamping operation the confined air will cause the seals to break while they are being made due to the weak condition of the film during sealing and before cooling of seals.

The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects, uses and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a packaging machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a packaging machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a packaging machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the folder, the forming die, the vertical sealing assembly, the filling member, and the horizontal sealing assembly;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the filling member showing spring members for maintaining the taut condition of the flattened tubular shaped bag and the vertical inner sealing member;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the changes in the sheet material as it progresses through the packaging machine;

FIG. 7a is a transverse section taken along line 7a7a of FIG. 7;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the folder and the forming die;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 4 showing the sliding members of the horizontal sealing assembly;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 1 1 of FIG. 9 showing the other sliding member;

FIG. 12a is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 4 showing the horizontal sealing assembly in open position;

FIG. 12b is a view similar to FIG. 12a showing the sealing assembly in bag clamping position;

FIG. is a view similar to FIG. 12a showing the sealing assembly in bag sealing and severing position;

FIG. 12d is a view similar to FIG. 12a showing the sealing assembly in bag clamping position with cooling air impinging on the seals just prior to releasing the severed bag.

FIGS. l3a-d show the condition of the horizontal sealing assembly latch mechanism corresponding to the positions of the sealing assembly as shown in FIGS. l2a-d;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing the horizontal seal assembly in a position just prior to the clamped position of FIG. 12b; and

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic view of a fluid system for heating the sealing members.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the numeral 10 refers to the housing of the packaging machine constructed in accordance with the present invention. Sheet material such as polyethylene or other suitable plastic is fed from a reel 12 driven by a suitable motor (not shown) into a reservoir arrangement 14. The reservoir 14 which is of conventional design is necessary because of the intermittent movement of the sheet material as it progresses through the machine. By the use of the reservoir 14, the sheet material is not directly pulled from the reel 12 but instead is pulled from the reservoir which requires less force. The reservoir arrangement 14 comprises a pulley 16 and a movable pulley 18 slidable along a support 20 on wheels 22 mounted in a block 24 to which pulley 18 is rotatably attached. A pair of counterweights 26 are attached to the block 24 through flexible members 28 which pass around interconnected pulleys 30. As will be appreciated, the movable pulley 18 has sufiicient freedom so that its distance moved along the support 20 will approximate the amount of sheet material required by the machine to form several packages. The reel 12 will continuously feed sheet material into the reservoir and will only stop when the movable pulley is at the bottom of the support 20. The machine is adapted to stop if the movable pulley 18 should reach the top of the support 20 indicating insuflicient sheet material in the reservoir.

From the reservoir 14, the sheet material moves through the support 32 into the folder member 34 seen to best advantage in FIGS. 4 and 8. The folder 34 is essentially a triangular shaped section 36 having a base 38 which is of a length slightly more than the width of the film to be folded. The perpendicular height from the apex 40 of the triangular section to the horizontal plane of the base 38 is at least greater than one-half of the film width. Although other angles may be utilized, it has been found that the best results are obtained when the triangular section 36 is placed in position on the base 38 at an incline of approximately 45 degrees with the vertical. As the sheet material is drawn upward from the reservoir 14 and centered on the triangular shaped section 36, it is folded over the triangle side edges 42, 44 beginning at a point slightly above the base 38 where the width of the triangle becomes less than the width of the sheet material. Triangular side members 46, 48 are used to support the triangular section 36 at its preferred angle.

The folded sheet material is then formed into its flattened tubular shape on a forming die 50. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the forming die 50 is preferably made integral with the folder member 34 although it can readily be made separate from the folder and then mechanically attached. To assure a smooth transition of the sheet material from the folder to the former, a circular shaped rod 52 is placed on each side of the forming die at a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet material. The forming die 50 consists of two vertical sides 54, 56 which are connected to the folder member 34 along the intersection of side members 46, 48 which is substantially a normal line from apex 40 of triangular section 36 to the horizontal plane of base 38. The vertical sides 54, 56 diverge outwardly from their connection to the folder and are joined with two substantially parallel sides 58, 60. The vertical sides '54, 56 are joined along their upper ends by a curved top portion 62 having a curved leading portion 64. The parallel sides 58, 60 are substantially triangular in shape with curved overlapping ends 66, 68, respectively. The upper free edges of the triangular parallel sides 58, 60 including the upper edges of the overlapping ends 66, 68 constitute bending surfaces 70, 72, respectively.

As shown best in FIGS. 4, 7 and 7a, the sheet material from the folder member 34 is moved inside the circular rods 52 along the diverging sides 54, 56 and upper curved top portion 62 and then placed into the opening 74 defined by curved leading portion 64 and bending surfaces 70, 72, and then moved downwardly and out through the open bottom. This movement of the sheet material is schematically shown in FIG. 7. As the sheet material moves through opening 74, the material is formed into a flattened tubular shape with one vertical side 75 being closed and the second vertical side 75a being formed by overlapping ends.

The opening 74 is of sufficient dimension to receive a filling chute 76, as clearly shown in FIG. 4, with suflicient space of course provided between the chute 76 and the forming die 50 to receive the sheet material. Above the chute 76 is a spout 78 into which the material to be packaged is dropped from a suitable measuring device (not shown). The filling chute 76 which comprises a rectangular section 80 and a pair of semicircular portions 82, 84 serves a four-fold purpose. First, the rectangular section 80 conducts the material to be packaged from the filling spout 78. Second, semicircular portion 84 allows air from the formed bags as they are being filled to pass outwardly. Third, the semicircular portion 82 supports part of the vertical sealing assembly 86, and fourth, the exterior shape of the filling chute 76 conforms to the shape of the sheet material as it passes through opening 74 in the forming die 50 thereby acting as a guide for the formed sheet material. A longitudinal opening 88 is provided in semicircular portion 82 for a purpose discussed below.

The vertical sealing assembly 86 comprises complementary inner and outer sealing members 90, 92, respectively, which coact together through longitudinal opening 88 to seal the overlapping edge 75a of the sheet material. The inner sealing member 90 mounted in semicircular portion 82 comprises a rectangular shaped die 94 seated in an insulation block 96. The block 96 is attached at its upper end to a link 98 and at its lower end to a link 100. Connected to link 100 is a rod 108 which is seated in a bearing member 104 afiixed to end plate 106. Connected to link 98 is a rod 102 which passes through bearing member 110 in end plate 112. The end plates 106, 112 which support the bearing members 104, 110 also close semicircular portion 82 to prevent dust or particles of the filling material from settling on the die 94. An opening 114 in rectangular die 94 acts as the passageway for the die heating fluid. Ducts 116, 118 are used to conduct the die heating fluid into and out of the die 94, respectively. The inner sealing member 90 is rotatably moved into and out of the opening 88 in the filling chute through an arm 120 attached at one end to rod 102 and pivotally attached at its other end to piston 122 of an air cylinder 124.

The outer sealing member 92 comprises a rectangular shaped die 126 having a longitudinal opening 128 and seated in an insulation block 127. Ducts 130 and 132 are connected to opening 128 to conduct the heating fluid into and out of the die 126. The die 126 is moved into sealing position by the piston 134 of air cylinder 136. Actuation of air cylinders 124 and 136 moves the inner and outer sealing dies against the overlapping sheet material to form the vertical seam on the sheet material. The length of the longitudinal opening 88 and the inner and outer rectangular dies 94, 126 is at least as great as the maximum height of the package to be formed. A duct 138 supplying cooling air for the seal is provided adjacent the vertical sealing members.

As the seamed sheet material moves olf the filling chute 76, it is maintained in its flattened tubular shape by resilient members 140 which are suitably attached to the lower ends of the filling chute. These resilient members 140 which may be formed of resilient plastic or spring steel urge the curved sides of the sealed material outward to tension the long sides of the tubular shaped material thereby maintaining the flattend tubular formed material in straight, unwrinkled and unbulged condition preparatory to its being received by the horizontal sealing assembly 142.

Movement of the sheet material as well as horizontal seaming and severing of the completed bag is performed by the horizontal sealing assembly 142. The horizontal sealing assembly 142 is movable in a vertical direction along channels 144 by chains 146 moved by a pair of sprockets 148 which are driven by arms 150 eccentrically attached by suitable means to sprockets 148. The arms 150 are connected to shaft 152 through links 154. The shaft 152 is driven by a motor 156 through a chain 158. As will be apparent, the eccentric mounting of arms 150 on shaft 152 through links 154 provides for the clockwise and counterclockwise motion of the sprockets 148 and in turn the chains 146. Springs 160 fixed at one end to chains 146 and at their other end to base 162 serve as a preferred form of counterweight although the usual type of counterweight using a weight can be used.

The horizontal sealing assembly 142 comprises a frame 164 having flanges 166 which slide along channels 144. Slidably mounted on rods 168 are seal supports 170, 172 preferably formed from a suitable cast metal.

Seal supports 170, 172 are substantial duplicates of each other with each support having a body portion 174 with openings 176, 178 connected by opening 180. Clamp guides 182 are formed above and below each body portion to support upper clamp assemblies 184 and lower clamp assemblies 186. Each lower clamp assembly comprises a rod 188 with a clamping head 190. Rod 188 which is slidable in clamp guides 182 has a stop member 192 at its end opposite from the clamping head 190 to retain the rod 188 within the guides. Plates 194 are fixed on the rods 188 to act as stops for the springs 196. The springs 196 are precompressed when placed on rods 188 between the spring plates 194 and the clamp guides. Air removal plates 197 are fixed at one end to stop members 192 and fixed at the other end to clamp ing heads 190. Although complete plates 197 are illustrated, rigid member comprising angular sections 197 need only be utilized for the air removal purposes described below.

The upper clamp assemblies 184 are substantially the same as the lower clamp assemblies 186 comprising rods 198, clamping heads 200, stop members 202, spring plates 204 and precompressed springs 206. Additionally, the upper clamp assemblies include bag supports 208 fixed at one end to stop members 202 and attached at the other end to clamping heads 200.

Seal unit 210 is placed into opening 178 of seal support and seal unit 212 is placed into opening 178 of seal support 172. Units 210, 212 which are formed of body portions 214, 216, respectively, of suitable insulating material are attached to seal supports 170, 172 by suitable means such as bolts or adhesive.

Seal unit 210 has horizontal sealing dies 218, 220 supported in the body portion 214. Although each sealing die may be separate from the other, it is preferable to form the dies in one continuous rectangular shaped tube through which the seal heating fluid will flow. Spaces 222, 224 are provided between the sealing unit body por tion 214 and seal support body portion 174 to provide room for bend 226 between the horizontal sealing dies 218, 220 at one end as well as the bending of the tube section along the side of the seal unit and then down through the casting body to be connected to suitable tubing to carry the seal heating fluid. Between the sealing dies 218, 220 in body portion 214, there are provided a plurality of slotted openings 228 which extend through the body portion and open into opening 180. A knife edge 230 is seated in the body portion 214 and extends out further than the sealing dies 218, 220 for a purpose to be described below.

Seal unit 212 is substantially the same as seal unit 210 comprising body portion 216, horizontal sealing dies 232, 234, spaces 236, 238 between body portion 216 and seal support body portion 174 to provide room for the sealing dies connecting portion 240 at one end and the bending of the tube sections along the side of the body portion 216 and then down through the seal support body portion 174 to be connected to suitable tubing to carry the seal heating fluid. A plurality of slotted openings 242 are also provided between the horizontal sealing dies. A slotted opening 244 extending the major portion of the length of body portion 216 is provided to receive knife edge 230.

Pneumatic actuated pistons 246 are attached to each seal support 170, 172 to move the seal supports and thereby seal units 210, 212 toward and away from each other. Air for cooling the seals is brought into openings 176 of the seal support body portions 174 through ducts 247 connected to inlet ports 248 on the casting body portions. The air enters opening 176 and passes through opening 180 and then through slotted openings 228 and 242 in seal units 210, 212, respectively.

Latching means are provided on the castings 170, 172 for a purpose to be described below. The latching means includes a hook member 250 pivoted on seal support 170 by means of a pin 252 with a pin 253 preventing movement of hook member 250 below the normal horizontal position. The hook member 250 has a cam surface 254 and an abutment surface 256. The cam surface 254 is adapted to ride up a bolt 258 attached to casting 172.

In FIG. there is shown a simplified system for supplying the seal heating fluid, to the horizontal and vertical sealing dies. This system comprises a fluid tank or reservoir 259, a plurality of interconnected pipes 260 having resistance heating coils 262 therein for heating the fluid to its proper temperature, a distribution duct 264 to supply the heated fluid to scaling dies 94, 126 of the vertical sealing members and sealing dies 218, 220, 232, 234 constituting the horizontal sealing units. The output from the sealing dies passes through duct 266 into a pump 268 which delivers the fluid back to the reservoir. By having the pump 268 on the entrance side of the reservoir rather than the exit side, the pressure through the sealing dies is not as great as when the fluid is pumped directly into the dies. As will be apparent, by passing fluid at a constantly uniform temperature rapidly through the sealing dies, the sealing dies are maintained at a constant temperature throughout their length.

The sealing dies are preferably formed of nickel or steel although other materials may be used. A prime requisite being that the material not be reactive with the particular heating fluid to be used. The heating fluid which is preferably heated to approximately 400 F. can be any suitable non-volatile liquid capable of maintaining its liquid condition at the required temperature. Heat transfer fluids such as Ucon supplied by the Union Carbide Corporation and Dowtherm supplied by the Dow Chemical Company may readily be used.

The operation of the apparatus will now be readily understood. The sheet material which is supplied from the reel 12 passes through the reservoir 14 and is folded over folder member 34 and threaded between the vertical rods 52. The folded sheet material is then formed into its flattened tubular shape by movement along the sides 54, 56 and curved top portion 62 of forming die 50 and then along parallel sides 58, 60 and into the opening 74 and oevrlapping ends 66, 68 and out through the open bottom of the forming die 50 thereby forming the flattened tubular shape with one side having overlapping edges. This flattened tubular material is moved down along filling chute 76 to the bottom thereof. Air cylinders 124 and 136 are actuated to move the vertical sealing dies 94, 126 together to seal the overlapping edges. Cooling air from a suitable blower (not shown) through duct 138 may then be used to cool the seal. The seamed flattened tube is then moved over resilient members 140 where it is kept in taut condition. The horizontal sealing assembly 142 is moved upward by chains 146 to a point directly below resilient members 140.

Air cylinders 246 are actuated to move seal supports 170, 172 and close clamping assemblies 184, 186 on the sheet material. Just prior to closing of the clamping assemblies, the sections 197 of plates 197 will press against the lowermost filled bag to remove all excess air therein. This air removal is shown best in FIG. 14 and is necessary to prevent a pressure build-up in the filled bag which could possibly break the seals to be formed above the filled bag. The air removed from the bag exits through semicircular portion 84 of filling chute 76. As soon as the lcamping assemblies close (FIG. 12b) the horizontal sealing assembly will start moving downward pulling the seamed flattened tube with it. This downward movement also moves another position of the formed sheet material onto filling chute 76 and over longitudinal opening 88. As suflicient air piston pressure is built up to further com press pre-compressed spring 196, 206, the seal units 210, 212 will come together until the sealing dies are in contact with the sheet material to form the upper and lower horizontal seals, as seen best in FIG. 120. At the same time, the knife edge 238 will sever the sheet material between the seals. The horizontal sealing assembly continues moving downward While the material to be packaged is being dropped through filling chute 76 into the just formed bag. The seal dies stay in contact for a preset time period at the termination of which the valve (not shown) controlling the air cylinders 246 is shifted to a neutral position which permits the air cylinders to exhaust and remain exhausted until power is resumed to the solenoids (not shown) controlling the air cylinders. This type of valve is conventional and a further description is not deemed necessary. Upon movement of the valve to neutral, the spring load in the clamping assemblies will move apart the seal supports 172 and thereby the seal dies and knife edge. When approximately one inch apart (FIG. 12d), the latch means 250, 258 which have moved by each other as shown in FIGS. 13b and 130 will catch as shown in FIG. 13d thereby preventing the seal supports 170, 172 from moving further apart. At this point the clamps are still gripping the severed bags with the upper filled bag being supported on bag supports 208. At this point in the cycle, cooling air is introduced through inlet ports 248 into openings 176, and then into slotted openings 228, 242 to cool the seals. When the proper bag length is reached, as determined by suitable means such as a conventional photocell mark on the sheet material, the hook member 250 is triggered upward by a suitable means such as a sliding hammer (not shown) and the air cylinders 246 are impulsed to fully open the seal supports 170, 172 and thereby the clamping assemblies. At this lowermost point, the vertical sealing assembly will seal the newly formed flattened tubular material on filling chute 76. When the clamps open, the filled severed bag is dropped onto a suitable conveyor 270. The cycle is repeated by the upward moving of the open horizontal sealing assembly past the just filled bag with its bottom sealed. The horizontal sealing assembly is then closed and moved downward taking with it the next section of sheet material with the vertically sealed edge.

As can be seen, there has been described a packaging machine which is capabable of handling large size bags, which will form excellent seals on heavy sheet material, and which will operate quickly and efliciently.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood apparatus and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A packaging machine for forming and filling heat scalable sheet material comprising: means for supplying said sheet material; means for folding the sheet material; means for forming the sheet material into a tubular form with an open overlapping edge; means for sealing said overlapping edge of said tubular formed sheet material; means for filling said tubular formed sheet material, a seal die assemblage for clamping, sealing and severing the filled tubular formed sheet material whereby individual filled packages are produced, and chute means extending through said forming means, said chute means including said means for sealing said overlapping edges and said filling means, said chute means being a flattened tubular member, said tubular member having a vertical slot therein, said means for sealing said overlapping edges including a pair of sealing dies at opposite sides of said vertical slot and the overlapping edges of the tubular formed sheet material, means for heating said sealing dies, and means for moving said sealing dies toward each other.

2. The packaging machine of claim 1, wherein said folding means includes a triangular shaped member over two sides of which the sheet material is folded.

3. The packaging machine of claim 1, wherein said forming means includes a hollow forming die having parallel side walls of substantially triangular shape, each of said parallel side walls having a curved end portion at one end, said curved end portions overlapping to form an end wall of said forming die, each of said parallel side walls being connected at their other end to a second side wall member, said second side wall members converging toward each other.

4. The packaging machine of claim 3, wherein said second side walls are connected together at their upper ends by a curved upper wall.

5. The packaging machine of claim 3, wherein the length of said parallel sides is greater than the distance said sides are spaced apart.

6. The packaging machine of claim 1, wherein said chute means includes a rectangular section through which the filling material passes, and a pair of semicircular end portions joined to said rectangular section, whereby the outer surface of said chute means is of flattened tubular shape and constitutes a guiding surface for the formed sheet material.

7. The packaging machine of claim 6, wherein said chute means further includes tensioning means at the bottom thereof for maintaining the formed flattened tubular sheet material in substantially wrinkle free condition.

8. The packaging machine of claim 7, wherein said tensioning means are resilient fingers depending from the lower ends of said semicircular end portions.

9. The packaging machine of claim 1, wherein said assemblage includes a pair of horizontally sliding members reciprocal between open and closed positions, each of said members including an upper and lower sealing die and an upper and lower clamping means, at least one of said sliding members having a cutting means between said upper and lower sealing dies, and means for heating said sealing dies to heat seal together the opposite sides of the tubular form.

10. The packaging machine sealing die assemblage of claim 9, wherein cooling means are provided between said upper and lower sealing dies for directing a cooling medium onto the film material.

11. The packaging machine sealing die assemblage of claim 9, wherein said clamping means includes clamping bars and clamping bar supports provided on each horizontally sliding member, each of said clamping bars including a clamping head and at least one rod adapted for slidable movement through said clamping bar supports.

12. The packaging machine sealing die assemblage of claim 11, wherein each of said clamping bar rods has a spring thereon, a stop member on each of said rods, said spring being located between one of said clamping bar supports and said stop member whereby movement of said sliding members toward each other will initially cause said clamping heads to meet and further movement of said sliding members will compress said springs to produce a releasing force in said springs while at the same time said cutting means will sever said film material.

13. The packaging machine sealing die assemblage of claim 12, wherein latch means are provided on each of said sliding members, said latch means operating to latch said sliding members together after said spring releasing' force has been utilized to move said sliding members apart a distance sufficient to remove said cutting means from said film material, and means for releasing said latch means to permit reciprocation of said sliding members to open position.

14. The packaging machine sealing die assemblage of claim 11, wherein bag support means are attached to the upper portions of each horizontal sliding member.

15. The packaging machine sealing die assemblage of claim 14, wherein said bag support means includes a plate member supported on said upper clamping means.

16. The packaging machine sealing die assemblage of claim 11, wherein air removal means are attached to the lower portion of each horizontal sliding member.

17. The packaging machine sealing die assemblage of claim 16, wherein said air removal means includes a plate member supported on said lower clamping means.

18. The packaging machine of claim 1, wherein said heating means is a hot moving fluid.

19. The packaging machine of claim 9, wherein said sealing dies are hollow tubular shaped and said means for heating said sealing means is circulating heated fluid.

20. A packaging machine for forming and filling heat scalable sheet material comprising: means for supplying said sheet material; means for folding the sheet material; means for forming the sheet material into a tubular form with an open overlapping edge; means for sealing said overlapping edge of said tubular formed sheet material; means for filling said tubular formed sheet material, a seal die assemblage for clamping, sealing and severing the filled tubular formed sheet material whereby individual filled packages are produced, and chute means extending through said forming means, said chute means including said means for sealing said overlapping edges and said filling means, said chute means including a rectangular section.through which the filling material passes, and a pair of semicircular end portions joined to said rectangular section, whereby the outer surface of said chute means is of flattened tubular shape and constitutes a guiding surface for the formed sheet material, one of said semicircular end portions having a vertical slot therein, said means for sealing said overlapping edges including a pair of sealing dies at opposite sides of said vertical slot and the overlapping edges of said tubular formed sheet 1 1 material, means for heating said sealing dies, and means 3,195,285 for moving said sealing dies toward each other. 3,326,097 21. The packaging machine of claim 20, wherein said 3,347,012 heating means is a hot moving fluid. 3,160,999 3,426,499

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Maxfield 53180 X Van Den Berg et al7 53180 X Kannengiesser et a1. 53-180 10 Conti 156583 X Leasure 5328 12 Toss 53182 X Lokey 53180 X Scholle 5329 Lee 5339 Paige 53180 X THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner E. F. DESMOND, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

